Paul Tapner and ‘perfect’ Bob Chaplin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We’re pleased to report positive progress from the Tapner Eventing camp as they continue to rally around Paul Tapner, who sustained two brain bleeds after a fall during a hack. An update posted to the Tapner Facebook page today by Paul’s wife, Georgina, shows improvements, though there will still be a long road ahead for the 45 year old Australian rider:
“Paul is progressing well. Medically he is good. Physically he aches and mentally he is improving!
His long term memory is very good, but his short term memory from the day of the accident until yesterday is sketchy. Today however he is remembering things like what he has eaten, why he is in hospital and what he needs to do to get better. He is likely to remain in hospital for a little longer before he can start his program of rehabilitation.
Thank you all so much for your messages, I have read everyone, unfortunately I cannot reply to them all, but please know every single one has meant a lot as I am sure they will to Paul when he can read and process them.
The kids are coping well, Josh is busy helping with the harvest and working in the pub in the evenings. Maddie competed little Rocky at Waverton on Saturday and managed to come 2nd with a double clear! And we sold lovely Minty over the weekend to a wonderful home.
Next week all things working out Maddie will compete at Westwilts and I will compete in the BD champs at Hartpury. So things at Team Tapner are still moving forward, we are just waiting, but of course being patient for the boss to return!”
The EN team and eventing community continues to send its well-wishes to Paul, Georgina, and the whole Tapner team and will bring you more updates on Paul’s recovery as they become available.
Syd and I aren’t normally this brave…Syd maybe…me? Not so much. Photo: Lisa Phillips
The other day after I finished hosing my pony off after a particularly sweaty ride, I had an interesting conversation with the woman who owns the barn where I board my horse. We were discussing the current state of eventing and going to shows and wearing masks…you know, the usual eventing conversation. The topic turned to adult amateurs and competing at the lower levels, particularly how much more technical and demanding the Novice division cross country courses have become over the past few years.
Now. Anyone who knows me at all would probably say that I am a big weenie. I’m a blogger. I love to write (and ride). So it has been well documented. And yes, admittedly I can be a bit of a weenie. When the fences start moving upward, the pterodactyls in my stomach and the wimpiness in my always over-analyzing adult ammy brain tend to take over just a bit. OK, sometimes more than a bit. And in my defense I do have a pretty nasty accident in my past that left me with what my husband likes to call my bionic right arm, but that accident was well in my past. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my current, fabulous, superstar of a pony Syd who almost never takes a wrong step and always takes care of me even when I am all but closing my eyes and saying a Hail Mary over a fence.
Syd free jumping a few (cough cough) years back. Photo by Michelle Wadley.
And here’s where I have to take a moment to sing the praises of my heart horse; I promise this is a relevant digression. Syd could literally have gone anywhere and done anything. On more than one occasion I have been offered quite a lot of money to sell him. And in my mind he’s perfect and worth every penny I’ve been offered. He’s also my horse of a lifetime best friend, and I wouldn’t sell him for all the money in the world.
But I do wonder sometimes what he could have accomplished if he had not have been stuck with lower level adult amateur me. That’s a question that will never be answered, and as the years have passed, I have finally begun to be okay with that. And here’s why: As super talented as Syd is, he is also quite literally the perfect match for me. We trail ride; we hack out; we face fears together; he isn’t spooky; he saves my arse! I never have to wonder about whether or not he is going to refuse a fence he’s never seen. His attitude is always, “Hang on Mom! I’ve got this!” Do I still have to ride? Yes! Do I still have to work at dressage? Absolutely! BUT his trustworthy, kind, big-hearted spirit is exactly what this fifty-something mom needs. HE gives me confidence. HE makes it okay, and I adore him for it.
So what does this have to do with defending the lower levels? Well, I’ll tell ya. Buckle up, buttercup, and get ready for a rant. We as eventers are an adrenaline fueled group. Bigger, faster, further, higher! Dressage be damned! We’re in this for the guts and glory of cross country day! Huzzah! And yes. We are. But as I have gotten older and become a mom, I have also begun to face the very stark reality of my own mortality.
I have responsibilities! I have a child! I don’t bounce! (Let’s be real. I didn’t ever bounce.) What happens if I get seriously injured? To my family? To my job? To my horse? And again, let’s be real, this sport is dangerous. It is! Folks get hurt walking a horse down a barn aisle! Even if you are the safest of the safe riding the Guinness Book of World Record holding most bomb proof mount, you are STILL dealing with another creature who has his own brain and could accidentally hurt you.
Another rare occasion when I ate my Wheaties. Photo: Annie Fike
Please don’t misunderstand me. I LOVE my sport. I defend it regularly to all sorts of folks. I have been volunteering at the Kentucky Three Day Event for over 10 years. I am by no means trying to degrade or call into question anyone who rides at the upper levels. That is absolutely not my intent. What I am simply trying to do is defend those of us who don’t want to. Ride at the upper levels, that is. Because I think that sometimes we lower level folks are looked down upon because we DON’T go bigger, faster, higher, further.
Sometimes, I think the perception is that we CANNOT jump higher, or even worse, that because we are not, we lack knowledge or expertise in what we do. And sure, sometimes that is true. But let me give you this example: I turned 52 this summer. I hold two college degrees, and almost a Master’s. I have been riding since I was FIVE. I’m a writer and a researcher by nature who has owned a tack shop. I LOVE horses, eventing and everything to do with them, and because I love to read and study and audit, I am constantly learning. I enjoy educating myself on all things horse because I love what I do. But as an adult I have not competed above Beginner Novice. I have done that quite successfully; and I have schooled fences that are at the Novice and even Training level, but that’s it.
If you looked at me on paper alone you would wonder what in the heck was wrong with me. What’s wrong with my horse? NOTHING! (See the paragraph above) The knowledge in my brain far exceeds the level I have competed. Does that make me incompetent? Absolutely not. And it irks me that sometimes I am perceived that way. Because here is the bottom line for me and so many others like me: I CHOOSE to ride at the lower levels. Why? Because that’s where I am comfortable and that’s where I enjoy myself. Both Syd and I could absolutely school and compete at a much higher level than we do, but I choose not to.
Don’t get me wrong; I am super competitive. My family loves to talk about the famous domino throwing incident at Christmas one year when I got mad because I lost to my sister. I love to compete! I also love to take lessons and school (I ride 4 to 5 times a week). For me, it’s simply that I want to live to ride another day. I love what I do, and I want to continue doing it. All of it. But that’s just me! If you want to contest Land Rover, good on you! Go for it! But remember some of us just want to work on our horsemanship, love on our ponies, and become better riders.
Choosing to be an adult amateur rider is simply that: my choice; just as vying for the Olympics might be yours. Lower level adult amateur riders make up the largest demographic in the USEF, and we spend a lot of our hard-earned income to be a part of the horse community. There are quite a lot of us out there supporting and cheering on those who ride at levels we choose not to.
Happiness at a dressage clinic. PC: My long suffering horse husband Tim Wadley
One final thought: A few years back at a horse trial, someone asked me at what level I was competing. I replied, “Just beginner novice.” An older lady sitting nearby whipped her head around and quickly corrected me, “NEVER say ‘just.’ You are out there taking a chance and getting it done. Some folks never even throw their leg over the saddle. You are brave and courageous just to be here. There’s no ‘JUST’ to it.”
In summer 2020 we launched a 1st Annual $5,000+ Diversity Scholarship with the support of generous donors, inviting minority equestrians to contribute to the discussion of diversity and inclusion in equestrian sport. It is the mission of this annual bursary, which we intend to expand in coming years, to call for, encourage, elevate and give a platform to minority voices in a space where they are underrepresented.
How do we build a more diverse, inclusive and accessible sport? In the coming weeks we will explore this question alongside many of the 27 Scholarship recipients as they share with us their essays in full. Collectively, their perspectives coalesce into a body of work that will no doubt help inform a viable path forward for equestrian sport, and we are committed to connecting their actionable ideas with the public as well as leaders and stakeholders of the sport.
Hi, I’m Jen. I’m 26 and from Toronto, Canada and I’m a Black equestrian. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and my background in riding.
The first time I fell in love with horses was actually in a bookstore. I noticed this book with a beautiful horse running across the cover and I was completely captivated so I begged my mom to buy me the book. She did, and I think I read that book every day for two years until I finally took real horseback riding lessons. My parents were not horsey people and I think they saw it as, you know, the usual girl-likes-horses kind of interest as opposed to like a real passion. My my mom immigrated from Jamaica in the 1970s and my dad was raised by a single mom, so in their world having a horse was such a weird and foreign concept to them.
So because I couldn’t ride, instead I learned as much as I could about horses by watching as many horse videos as I could and reading as many horse books as the library had to offer. It really wasn’t until I had a job of my own and I could drive myself to my own lessons that I really got into horses the way that I wanted to consistently. I’ve been riding for four years now. Two years ago I adopted a retired racehorse named Piper. I got really lucky with Piper — he’s incredibly talented, very sweet and he’s done so much for me in terms of realizing some of my dreams like attending my first horse show. I’ve grown as a rider so much because of him.
I don’t currently have the means to show so instead I love going to watch other people show, and when I go to these show venues I’m very aware that out of the hundreds and hundreds of riders I’m the only Black person I see all day. I’ve always been aware of the huge racial disparity in equestrian sports, but I wasn’t really sure what I could do about it. Then during the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 this year, I started to really think more critically about race, and I’ve always been passionate about social justice and Black issues as separate interests outside of riding, and the idea of bringing them together was something I hadn’t really considered. Then at one point an acquaintance of mine reached out to me about joining a group of Black equestrians so I thought, great, it’s a chance to connect with a few people that I have two things in common with.
I was literally shocked at how many people were in this group of Black equestrians. We had to make a second group because the first one got too big and we couldn’t fit any more people into it. There are tons of Black equestrians. We’re still very much a minority in this sport but there is a much bigger group than I anticipated.
I thought I knew a lot about race before the protests and I really started to dig deeper into social issues and realized even as a Black woman I didn’t really know that much. There are so many layers to race and the way it relates to the social sphere — politics, history, culture, far beyond anything I ever knew and I grew up learning a lot about race. Another thing I’ve noticed is how often a lot of history of race and racism ended up going back to horses. Of course as a horse girl this was a subcategory I was fascinated by — for example 25 percent of cowboys were Black but they were never portrayed in western movies. I also didn’t know that horse racing was largely Black people at one point.
Anyway I knew I had a lot of learning to do and so did everyone else. I had so many ideas and so many things I wanted to talk about but I wasn’t sure where to begin, so I just started and created an Instagram page called Black Equestrians which just hit 3,000 followers [update at time of publication: over 4,100+]. Initially my goal was to just feature Black riders and show diversity within horseback riding, but then I quickly decided that it wasn’t good enough. It needed more. There’s so much privilege in equestrian sports. As we all know that is by no means a bad thing but it can really cloud your perception of the world outside of you, so I figured what a better audience to tackle issues of race and privilege than equestrians.
In the first month I’ve been writing Black equestrians I’ve learned three really valuable lessons. The first lesson: A lot of people don’t know what they don’t know. Race is very much like good riding or a good horse. When you grow up with it you know exactly what to look for and you can really see those subtle nuances from miles away. In the realm of racism a lot of white people are beginner crossrail riders. We have the basics down, we all know that racism is bad, but a lot of people legitimately cannot recognize the varying spectrum of more subtle racism. There are so many variations in levels, microaggressions, lack of diversity, inclusivity cultural appropriation, the list goes on.
I thought I knew a lot about race but I now realize I really don’t. And this is a world I grew up in in the sense that I had a Black mother who was always teaching about racism. A lot of people have a hard time talking about racism because they don’t see it. There needs to be a huge shift and we need to remind people that racism is very much alive. The civil rights movement of Martin Luther King dealt with the more loud racism, like segregation and lynching. In the new generation of the civil rights movement we need to start learning about quiet racism and the subtle racism so we can stamp it out.
The second lesson is that white people are really keen to learn. Since I started Black Equestrians I have been pleasantly surprised at how white people are responding. They’re engaged, they’re sharing, I get messages all the time saying stuff like I didn’t know that or that’s a really great point, I hadn’t thought about it like that. For an industry like riding, where as I mentioned before it’s a particularly concentrated hub of privileged white people, I really thought that this would be more of an uphill battle. Not to say that there aren’t people who aren’t as open to learning or examining their own privilege, but ultimately people seem willing to listen and learn. And so it’s important that we create a medium to express Black issues for everyone to learn and what will be great as Black Equestrians develops is that we’ll be able to tackle the very niche problems about Black equestrians and what they face and we now have a platform to amplify those voices to people who are listening.
And the third and final lesson is that the best way to increase diversity in equestrian sports is to create an environment where everyone can see this as something that they can do. There isn’t a lot of diversity reflected in equestrian product advertisements or in magazines, and when we watch professionals compete at upper levels it’s again not particularly diverse. Those areas will take different amounts of time and resources to reflect diversity, but it’s important that we start. Diversity in equestrian sports is small but it’s there and it’s strong. In expanding the way equestrian sports are represented we can move away from the widely held idea of what a traditional equestrian looks like.
This sport has people from all walks of life, different income brackets, different races, different sexual orientations and different ages. The best way to increase diversity within our sport is if we create a sport where everyone sees a reflection of themselves, where where they can see this as something that they can do and be a part of especially because that really is what horses are about. They are the true reflection of Martin Luther King’s dream — they don’t care about the color of your skin, they only care about the content of your character.
Get Involved:First things first, if you aren’t already following Black Equestrians on Instagram, do it right now! Black Equestrians also has an Etsy shop with a bunch of fun, feisty tee-shirts — I just ordered this one …
Social media is a powerful tool in the fight for social justice and social change. What are some of your favorite diversity-and-inclusion focused social media accounts to follow, equestrian or otherwise? Share them in the comments so that we can follow them, too!
Nation Media wishes to thank Barry and Cyndy Oliff, Katherine Coleman and Hannah Hawkins for their financial support of this Scholarship. We also wish to thank our readers for their support, both of this endeavor and in advance for all the important work still to come.
Congratulations are in order for Kaylawna Cook and her husband Tyler who are expecting their first child. Their daughter will make her grand entrance this November. I guess this means that Tamie Smith is a “grandma” now, though she certainly doesn’t look it. Congratulations Kaylawna and Tyler!
Our prayers are with Paul Tapner as he recovers from a fall sustained hacking last week. The fall caused him to have two brain bleeds, which led to a small stroke. He’s expected to make a full recovery, but the process will likely take weeks or months. [‘Slow recovery’ expected for former Badminton winner after brain bleeds and a stroke]
Fair Hill’s newest additions were on full display this weekend at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Test Event. Phillip Dutton ultimately won the CCI3*-S class aboard Fernhill Singapore. This was also a first look at the changes we can expect for the new cross country track, designed by Ian Stark. [Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill off to a Great Start with Test Event]
Happy 9th anniversary, Athletux! Must be why 10-year-old EN is so tight with y’all, because we went to preschool together. In honor of the occasion, today, August 11th, enter to win a Huge Athletux Prize Package! This includes an iconic Athletux Backpack, Bucket Bag, Saddle Pad Bag, Inspiration Gear, and Athletux Hat signed by the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event Competitors valued at over $350. [Enter]
What a great weekend at Fair Hill International and the debut of the Five Star Footing. Team coach Erik Duvander said the footing was absolutely perfect. The riders loved the color and even though we didn't actually ask the horses how they felt about it, they seemed to be jumping very well on it. Here's the winner Phillip Dutton Eventing – Training Center and Fernhill Singapore making easy work of the course.
The test event for the new Maryland Five-Star (canceled/postponed to 2021) was originally supposed to take place back in April just two weeks before the Kentucky Three-Day event (which of course was also canceled, R.I.P. 2020 North American five-stars). With all those big events thrown out the window thanks to COVID, that test event never did take place as scheduled in the spring.
Now that eventing is back in business (well, sort of) eager riders got to test out the new track that will be used for the eventual Maryland Five-Star this past weekend in conjunction with the Fair Hill International August horse trials. With COVID restrictions still in place, no spectators were allowed at the event, but we can take a peek at CCI3*-S action thanks to Area II eventer Emma Hinke. Emma captured tons of footage of various rider and fences, including some of the key questions on course. Thanks for sharing, Emma! You can find video recaps of other big events Emma has attended on her YouTube channel, along with videos chronicling the training of her OTTB gelding.
Here’s a little peek at the turf track as well, thanks to Sara Kozumplik Murphy! Neither event horses nor racehorses are running on the turf this year to allow it to take root and establish itself, but we’ll likely see the five-star cross country track start and end on the oval next year. Check out the brand new arenas in the infield as well. Lookin’ good, Fair Hill, lookin’ good!
Julie Wolfert Eventing out in full force at IEA. Photo by Mallory Stiver.
You certainly can’t keep eventers down for long, this much we know to be true. As events cautiously proceed with new COVID-19 protocols in place, it’s encouraging to see competitions happening around the country. Even with the cancellation of major events this fall, competition numbers remain strong as we continue to pursue improvements across all three phases. Let’s keep maintaining a safe distance and proper public health procedures so that our events can continue! And for those who have opted out of competing this year, all of my respect goes to you as well.
This weekend’s unofficial Low Score Award goes to Danica Meyerhoff and Geronimo, who won their Beginner Novice division at WindRidge in North Carolina on a finishing score of 20.8. We were thrilled to see Danica, who has primarily competed in the jumper ring for the past few years, back out eventing with one of the Meyerhoff sales horses. “It was fun to be back eventing,” she said. “It’s amazing how much of the sport sticks with you even if you haven’t done it for awhile!” What a way to return with a bang – congratulations, Danica!
CCI3*-S: Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore (24.5)
Open Intermediate A: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver (24.1)
Open Intermediate B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z (26.6)
Jr/YR Open Preliminary: Ryan Keefe and Point Nemo (27.0)
Open Preliminary A: Caroline Martin and Diablo Hit (27.0)
Open Preliminary B: Kendyl Tracy and Bobbie Burns (37.3)
Open Preliminary C: Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play (25.4)
Preliminary Rider: Jessica Ebzery and Absolut Cooley Quality (33.6)
Open Training A: Hannah Sue Burnett and Stakkato Bronx (30.0)
Open Training B: Paige Crotty and Excel Star Armina Z (22.6)
Open Training C: Lillian Heard and Cooley Greystones (30.9)
Junior Training: Grace Mykityshyn and Lusi (33.3)
Training Rider A: Nicole Ligon and Lightning Stone (29.1)
Training Rider B: Robyn Weaver and Broadway Act (30.7)
Junior Novice: Lulu Malinoski and Coulson (29.6)
Novice Rider A: Devlin Murphy and Newmarket Auto (32.6)
Novice Rider B: Courtney Crossley and Ponti Premonition (28.1)
Novice Rider C: Leslie Mintz and HSH Golden Boy (29.8)
Open Novice A: Emily Hamel and The Winter Soldier (21.4)
Open Novice B: Matt Brown and Sunsprite’s Huatulco (21.9)
Open Novice C: Ryan Wood and Woodstock Argo (24.5)
Finally home after a whirlwind of a week at IEA Horse Trial. I wanted to take a quick second to THANK every single…
I love these pictures of Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle posting one of three double clears yesterday. Thank you Steven Berkowitz for the pictures ❤️
Open Intermediate: Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q (43.9)
Open Preliminary: Bevin Dugan and Cape Cal (35.8)
Preliminary Rider: Megan Tardiff and Vindakova (35.4)
Preliminary/Training: Lea Adams-Blackmore and Fernhill Frostbite (30.9)
Junior Training: Eliza Quigley and Contaro (25.2)
Open Training: Heather Navarrete and Javas Mystery Man (29.1)
Training Rider: Alexandra Kavouksorian and The Alchemist (30.2)
Junior Novice: Eloise Plante and Mr. Lickety (30.7)
Novice Rider A: Andrea Brainard and Watson’s Beijing (30.2)
Novice Rider B: Pamela Bolek and Well Decorated (31.2)
Open Novice: Marcia Kulak and Gran Torino (27.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Chloe Ruhan and Baciami (33.8)
Junior Beginner Novice: Kendall Turney and Take Another Road (34.0)
Open Beginner Novice A: Annie Barron and Lil’ Debbie (32.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Marion Pomeroy and Romance II (25.3)
Open Beginner Novice C: Lydia Foster and Oidhre Leir (30.8)
And a special congrats to Heather Navarette riding Javas Mystery Man in Open Training. They are the winners of the Fernhill Fiesta Irish Sport Horse Award, presented by Pirouette Farm. The award is given to the lowest scoring Irish Bred Sport Horse at the Festival of Eventing in honor of Fernhill Fiesta (2003-2019).
You gotta give it up for all the volunteers this weekend. Ive been reading on social media that people are saying they…
Our eternal gratitude is owed once again to Joan Davis of Flatlandsfoto for providing us with some winner shots from GMHA this weekend. Don’t forget to support your show photographers and videographers!
Megan Tardiff and Vindakova (PR). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Chloe Ruhan and Baciami (BNR). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Heather Navarrete and Javas Mystery Man (OT). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Lea Adams-Blackmore and Fernhill Frostbite (P/T). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Pamela Bolek and Well Decorated (NR-B). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q (OI). Photo courtesy of Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.
Additionally, GMHA awarded the Fernhill Fiesta Irish Sport Horse Award to Heather Navarette, riding Javas Mystery Man in Open Training. This award is presented to the lowest scoring Irish Sport Horse competing at the Festival of Eventing.
Open Intermediate/Preliminary: Elizabeth Henry and Charlotte La Bouff (34.2)
Open Preliminary A: Hannah Hubsch and Bethel Park (28.9)
Open Preliminary B: Emma Hilt and The Blues Man (39.5)
Open Modified A: Matthew Trynoski and The Gidget (31.1)
Open Modified B: Lexie Samuels and GTB Tiger Tooo (29.7)
Open Training A: Brittney Posey and Wild Duke (23.3)
Open Training C: Katie Kirchdorfer and Galway Bay Cooley (32.1)
Open Novice A: Julie Wolfert and Namibia (25.5)
Open Novice B: Jane Musselman and Engapore (24.3)
Open Novice C: Jenna McPeek and Blue Sky Law (26.9)
Open Novice D: Mary Clare Owdziej and City of Ember (30.0)
Open Novice E: Sierra Thomas and Chambery (28.8)
Open Novice F: Ella Bernardi and Roxy (27.6)
Beginner Novice Junior A: Maddy Baynes and Bugatti Dreamin (32.8)
Beginner Novice Junior B: Evan Fleck and In Living Color (31.9)
Open Beginner Novice A: Jordan Fellers and Fernhill Fight Club (23.0)
Open Beginner Novice B: Nicole Beneigh and Rangers Funny Girl (30.0)
Open Beginner Novice C: Katie Sisk and Long Legs Lenore (22.5)
Open Beginner Novice D: Cathy Norman and Encore (24.3)
Open Beginner Novice E: Kristin Heinkel and Rocky Balboa (33.0)
Open Starter A: Ellie Celarek and Magic Maddie (31.8)
Open Starter B: Cori Garcia and Easy E (24.4)
Open Starter C: Catherine Bryan (Midnight Fringe (29.7)
Open Intermediate: Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime (34.9)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Camryn Holcomb and Quite Breit (45.5)
Open Preliminary: Madeline Batchelor and Stormin Blitz KD (52.4)
Preliminary/Training: Kristin Kubsch and CMF Royal Diamond (38.6)
Junior/Training Rider: Jordyn Schenk and Don’t Blame Teddy (38.9)
Open Training: Todd Wulf and Kando (26.1)
Senior Training Rider: Rachel Shelangoski and Ahh Ahh Chew (31.3)
Junior Novice Rider: Emily Hedberg and Quasar (25.5)
Open Novice: Brynna Jovanovich and Skye (27.3)
Senior Novice Rider: Cecilia Emilsson and Blazing Angel (27.2)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider: Madelyn Glazier and Amir (35.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Kjirsten Lee and Joe Deco (21.3)
Senior Beginner Novice: Deborah Brophy and Lion’s Roar (26.3)
Starter Beginner Novice A: Jennifer Tyler and Hennessey (30.5)
Starter Beginner Novice B: Elly Bates and One More and We’ll Stay (28.0)
What a weekend! Thank you Otter Creek for a fantastic event! We had a very busy weekend with 18 horses/riders from my…
Open Preliminary: Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio (37.2)
Open Training: Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom (27.9)
Open Novice A: Chris Kawcak and Maggie Belle (21.4)
Open Novice B: Angelika Beutel and Harrison (27.6)
Open Beginner Novice A: Savannah Gillmor and Mischief Managed (28.0)
Open Beginner Novice B: Madeline Backus and Finn (26.8)
Open Beginner Novice C: Dani Sussman and All Starz HH (26.0)
Starter A: Amy Bowers and Mr Wild Kitty (30.3)
Starter B: Amy Lott and Divine Revelation (23.1)
Preliminary A: Bobby Meyerhoff and Caso (30.4)
Preliminary B: Kaley Crosby and Valentino (33.5)
Training A: Bobby Meyerhoff and Omnipotent (32.4)
Training B: Chelsea Ross and Deliteful Anthem (36.9)
Training C: Maddie Hale and Cinzano 87 (33.1)
Novice A: Kimberly Steinbuch and Kelian V (28.2)
Novice B: Michelle Clark and Zeus (31.9)
Novice C: Solomon Edwards and WHF Waimea (26.4)
Beginner Novice A: Danica Meyerhoff and Geronimo (20.8)
Beginner Novice B: Paisley Narra and Wishing Can Be Fun (27.5)
Beginner Novice C: Malin Eriksson and WHF Wilhelmina (25.0)
Beginner Novice D: Riley Jones and Senor Santana (30.8)
Starter A: Sierra Isely and Irish Rose (30.3)
Starter B: Cornelia Stroemsten and Just Between Us (34.7)
Advanced Intermediate: Helan Alliston and Ebay (32.9)
Open Intermediate: Tamie Smith and Summerbridge Parc (42.4)
Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Calaro (29.4)
Preliminary Rider: Haley Turner and Shadow Inspector (24.9)
Jr. Training Rider A: Grace Wechser and Raskadero (25.5)
Jr. Training Rider B: Campbell Kadin and Deichkind 10 (31.8)
Modified/Training Challenge Open: Whitney Tucker Billeter and Bill’s Midnight Magic (26.6)
Modified/Training Challenge Rider: Leonie Padgett and Cooley Precision (28.9)
Open Training: Haley Dwight and WS Radagast (25.0)
Sr. Training Rider: Kaitlin Ramos and May Ryloa (30.0)
Training Amateur: Nicole Holownia and Bella Vida GWF (29.3)
Jr. Novice Rider A: Carlie Hall and Real Genius (28.1)
Jr. Novice Rider B: Rylin Clarke and Be A Star (26.2)
Novice Amateur: Sabine Short and Dexter (32.1)
Novice Horse: Holly Thompson and Atta Boy Atticus (26.2)
Open Novice: Rebecca Braitling and Monets Wish (28.3)
Sr. Novice Rider: Alisa Shen and Graceland’s Reatta (28.3)
Intro Rider: Sarah Currie and JR (30.8)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider A: Ella Oettle and Legend of Zelda (29.8)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider B: Mia Brown and Duke HW (22.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Libby Porzig and Just My Luck (28.5)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Susan De Jong and Canelo (29.3)
Open Intro A: Antonin Cornillon and Zuccherro (27.8)
Open Intro B: Brittany K. Lopez (26.7)
Woodside ReCap congratulations to all the riders! It was a successful weekend for all!!!1 Tux – Awesome!!!2 Chips-…
In summer 2020 we launched a 1st Annual $5,000+ Diversity Scholarship with the support of generous donors, inviting minority equestrians to contribute to the discussion of diversity and inclusion in equestrian sport. It is the mission of this annual bursary, which we intend to expand in coming years, to call for, encourage, elevate and give a platform to minority voices in a space where they are underrepresented.
How do we build a more diverse, inclusive and accessible sport? In the coming weeks we will explore this question alongside many of the 27 Scholarship recipients as they share with us their essays in full. Collectively, their perspectives coalesce into a body of work that will no doubt help inform a viable path forward for equestrian sport, and we are committed to connecting their actionable ideas with the public as well as leaders and stakeholders of the sport.
My name is Jordyn Hale and I am African American and an equestrian of 12 years. I have been riding horses since the age of 7. I first started out in a hunter barn filled with other kids my age. I never felt singled out because of my skin color. I had supportive friends and parents and felt like I fit right in with everyone else. I worked hard like everyone else and had the same opportunities.
I eventually made the switch to eventing around 12 years old. At this point I recognized that there was a lack of people who looked like me in the sport. I started feeling more self-conscious about how I presented myself out at competitions and schooling events. I felt like I had to be perfect as the only black person competing in the area. The pressure to be perfect took a toll on me and riding became less fun. I felt like I was only still riding because it was something I had to do, since my parents have spent so much time and money on it.
It wasn’t until joining Pony Club and competing at rallies that I began to have fun riding again. I met many people that helped me become a better horsewoman and did not look at me as “the black girl who rides.” They saw me as one of their peers. I am grateful to have a trainer that pushes me to move out my comfort zone and wants to see me do great things. I am even more grateful to have such an accepting horse community around me.
Get involved: Jordyn’s essay speaks to the power of community. The United States Pony Club‘s mission statement is “to promote sportsmanship, stewardship and leadership through horsemanship,” and we see this focus on not just riding, but character development and life skills, in organizations like 4-H and the US Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program as well.
We are so glad that Jordyn didn’t stop riding before she found the piece of riding that was missing for her, a sense of inclusion. And we’ve loved seeing Pony Clubbers and Pony Club chapters double down on their diversity efforts these past few months. (Middle California Region, you guys rock!)
Jordyn strikes us as possessing the qualities 4-H CEO Jennifer Sirangelo described in last week’s Opportunity4All Youth Forum: “For any problem this big it takes a powerful solution. What gives me hope is the resilience, creativity and determination of America’s young people. Their ability to solve challenges and lead when given the chance is what is going to help our country create opportunity for all.”
It is our responsibility as adults, she says, to show up as allies and mentors who can lift up youth voices and empower them to address the challenges they face head-on: “At National 4‑H Council, we will always believe in them, we will always tell their stories, and we will always work to create opportunities for those hardest to reach and who need us the most.” Learn more about the 4-H’s excellent Opportunity4All campaign here.
Today we challenge you to reach out to a youth equestrian organization and ask how YOU can help them in their efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community. Do it for Jordyn and all the youth, with their “resilience, creativity and determination,” who truly embody the future of not only our sport but our society.
Nation Media wishes to thank Barry and Cyndy Oliff, Katherine Coleman and Hannah Hawkins for their financial support of this Scholarship. We also wish to thank our readers for their support, both of this endeavor and in advance for all the important work still to come.
Equilume sponsored rider Phillip Dutton topped the CCI3*-S division at Fair Hill over the weekend riding Fernhill Singapore, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding (Singapore x Riedellia, by Animo) owned by Ann Jones, Thomas Tierney and David Vos. The pair, who finished 5th at the Fair Hill International CCI4*-L last fall, added just two cross country time penalties to their dressage score of 22.5 for the win.
Phillip had four horses in the division: Sea of Clouds finished 9th, Fernhill Pickpocket finished 18th, and borrowed mount Tsetserleg was among several horses seen cantering casually around cross country to finish 24th.
“Fair Hill ran a great competition this weekend,” Phillip recapped on Facebook. “The CCI3*-S was a very useful fitness and training run for my three horses and Boyd Martin’s Tseterleg, and happily Fernhill Singapore ended up coming out on top. The additions and improvements made to the Fair Hill International make it an incredible venue — it’s really very exciting for our sport. Everyone seems to be getting the hang of the not-so-new COVID guidelines by now, and it’s encouraging to see the eventing community work together to keep our sport going as safely and sensibly as possible. Our heartfelt thanks to the organizers and volunteers, and we look forward to returning next year for the inaugural 5*.”
Other five-star notables in the CCI3*-S: Lauren Nicholson with Landmark’s Monte Carlo picked up 20 and time to finish 35th, Will Coleman and Tight Lines took their time to finish 26th. Lillian Heard was 5th with LCC Barnaby, Lauren Nicholson was 4th with Vermiculus, and Ariel Grald was 2nd with Leamore Master Plan.
More in the Intermediate divisions: Sharon White and Cooley on Show won Intermediate A, second to herself and Cooley Quicksilver. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night were 3rd. Meg Pellegrini was 11th with RF Eloquence, with whom Ellie MacPhail O’Neal completed Kentucky. Liz also won Intermediate B with Deniro Z. Buck Davidson took a spill from Jak My Style. Lynn Symansky won a division of Preliminary with her 2019 Pan Am Games mount RF Cool Play.
Speaking of five-star horses, we’d be remiss not to mention that Otis Barbotiere, who in 2012 finished 3rd at Kentucky and was Boyd Martin’s Olympic mount, was spotted in a Training division with Mia Mata Blake. Since we saw him last, at Luhmühlen in 2014 where he finished 15th, Otis went into the show jumping world and we’re glad to see him back on course at age 18. Mia and Otis have done a couple events this summer and we wish the best of luck in his eventing encore!
Area II eventer Emma Hinke captured tons of CCI3*-S footage while out volunteering — we’ll have her cross country reel featuring the brand new course posted later this afternoon so keep an eye out for that! You can find video recaps of other big events Emma has attended on her YouTube channel, along with videos chronicling the training of her OTTB gelding.
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The last time I reported at an event for EN was at the very beginning of the year, when I crossed the pond to spend a sunny week in Ocala and subsequently Wellington, where editor Leslie and I teamed up to cover the eventing showcase. After that, the season dried up like a dog turd on a hot sidewalk, without even a fistful of miserably cold and wet days at Burnham Market on offer.
But now, lads and lasses, I’m back — well, nearly, anyway. You’ll find me reporting remotely on Haras du Pin this week, where the FEI Nations Cup series is picking itself up and dusting itself off, and then next week — joy of joys — I’ll be embarking on a cheeky six-hour road trip up to Burgham, where a jam-packed CCI4*-S will be my sole focus for a few days. How jam-packed? Try nearly 200 entries. Thank god I don’t need to write a form guide for this one!
Whichever way the competition goes next week, you’ll be spoiled rotten, eventing fans. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of just a few of the superstars fighting for the title, courtesy of the press team at Burgham …
“⭐️ 1: world champion (Ros Canter Eventing‘s Allstar B) ⭐️ 7: CCI5* winners (Oliver Townend (Official)‘s Ballaghmor Class and Cooley Master Class, Team Price‘s Faerie Dianamo, Wesko, Classic Moet and Ringwood Sky Boy, and Tom McEwen Eventing‘s Toledo De Kerser) ⭐️ 1: 2019 Bramham CCI4*-L winner and 2019 Burgham CCI4*-S winner (Kitty King Eventing‘s Vendredi Biats) ⭐️ 1: 2019 Blenheim CCI4*-L winner (Piggy March‘s Brookfield Inocent) ⭐️ 1: 2019 Boekolo CCI4*-L winner (Laura Collett’s London 52) ⭐️ 1: 2019 British National Champion (Ben Hobday‘s Shadow Dancer II) ⭐️ 1: individual bronze medallist and team gold medallist from the 2017 Europeans (Nicola Wilson Eventing‘s Bulana) ⭐️ 1: Strzegom 2019 CCI4*-L winner (Harry Meade Eventing‘s Superstition)
You’ll be able to follow along with Horse&Country TV’s livestream and, of course, wall-to-wall coverage of the sort that only EN delivers. Your loyal British Correspondent is delighted to be at your service once again.
National Holiday: It’s National Spoil Your Dog Day (who comes up with these things, anyway…?!). I recommend a beach or lake trip to celebrate, if you’re also in the middle of a heatwave.
The SafeSport rulings against George Morris and Jimmy Williams have now become lawsuits. Also facing further legal action is the USEF, with allegations that the organization failed to protect young athletes by turning a blind eye on Morris’ reputation for sexual abuse of young, male riders, and Flintridge Riding Club, which employed Williams for over four decades even after it received complaints of abuse and assault from at least one child: “These cases are not just about individual cases. Yes, these are two individual offenders, but it didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened in an industry and a community that allowed it to happen … These perpetrators wouldn’t have been able to access kids if they didn’t have the stature in the equestrian community that was given to them.” [Sex Abuse Survivors File Suit Against Morris, USEF And Flintridge] [Top Equestrians Accused of Sex Abuse in Lawsuits]
We don’t often head over to the world of saddleseat, but this story warrants a trip. It takes a brief look at the remarkable life of Tom Bass, who was born into slavery but went on to make major waves in the sport, innovating in the interest of horsemanship and leaving behind a crucial legacy. [Former slave became famous for his prize-winning horsemanship]
The recent cancellation of high-profile, big-stakes competitions, including the AECs and Pony Finals, have shown how badly people’s riding goals can be derailed by circumstance. But why, asks Shelby Dennis, can’t many of those same people summon the empathy to understand what it must be like for aspiring riders whose entire lives are derailed by circumstance? In this blog, she makes a great case for turning our horse show blues into something bigger than ourselves. [The Classism That is Jumping Out in the Horse World in 2020]
J. Michael Plumb really, really likes the Olympics — in fact, he’s been to eight of them, more than any other US athlete. In this piece from the Chronicle of the Horse, he recalls his experiences flying the stars and stripes around the world. [A Lifetime of Olympics]
What I’m Listening To:
Obviously I had to drop everything and tune into the Major League Eventing podcast when they interviewed our very own editor and resident badass, Leslie Wylie. If you’re not familiar with our Leslie (where have you BEEN), she’s not a lass who does anything by halves — she’s a Mongol Derby competitor, a party girl after my own heart, and a tireless champion for diversity in the sport. She’s also, you know, hilarious. You can listen to her guest appearance here.
Donation Station:
Our favourite equine-themed literacy programme, Saddle Up and Read, has launched a new fundraiser to ensure the kiddos enrolled have plenty of new books to read and every opportunity to head out to the farm for some good, safe, pony-mad fun. Their current fundraiser comes to us in the form of a t-shirt sale, with just $25 netting you a highly covetable white tee with a vintage-inspired bronco design. You can chip in and get yours here.
Monday Video from Fleeceworks:
It’s been a while since we’ve enjoyed a good Battle of the Germans. Let’s relive a great one from last year.
There’s something about the barn first thing in the morning. The quiet of a new day, horses quietly munching on hay — if I could bottle that early mornin barn feeling, I think I’d make a fortune!
